POLITICS AND LANGUAGE: A CASE STUDY OF GOA

This book is the outcome of my research work on the topic Politics & Language: A Case Study of Goa. I have been a keen observer of language movement in Goa since 1985-1986. Language unites as well as divides the people on the political plane. The anti-integration forces traditionally sided with the Portuguese rulers in pre-Liberation Goa. They played no role in the freedom struggle of Goa. They became the vociferous proponents of the distinct identity of Goa in the post-Liberation era. The vested interests replaced the Devanagari with the Roman script of the Konkani language and stunted its origin, growth, and development in the territory. Konkani, with its Devanagari script, is the official language of the State of Goa. Konkani is included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India. The book is a historic account of the linguistic affairs of Goa based on truth, reason, and reality.